Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games Monday for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage, the league said Monday.
The NFL has three days to enchantment the ruling by retired federal decide Sue L. Robinson, who presided over the disciplinary listening to and issued the choice.
“We appreciate Judge Robinson’s diligence and professionalism throughout this process,” according to a league statement.
“In light of her findings, the league is reviewing Judge Robinson’s imposition of a six-game suspension and will make a determination on next steps.”
Watson signed a five-year, $230 million assured contact with the Browns in March amid allegations of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods involving greater than 20 girls.
NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk reported that the suspension didn’t embody any extra positive.
Watson’s lawyer and representatives of the Browns and the National Football League Players Association couldn’t instantly be reached for remark Monday.
Watson has already missed a substantial period of time on the sector, having not performed for the Houston Texans all of final season as his authorized challenges unfolded and the workforce sought to trade him.
Before the suspension got here down, the National Football League Players Association and Watson stated in a joint assertion Sunday that they “will stand by her ruling” and referred to as on “the NFL to do the same.”
Few, if any, American firms are extra carefully monitored for its dealing with for home violence incidents by workers than the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens operating again Ray Rice was initially suspended for simply two games in 2014 after troubling surveillance video confirmed him knocking out his future spouse and dragging her physique off an elevator.
Rice was finally suspended indefinitely however the seemingly mild preliminary self-discipline compelled NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to admit: “I didn’t get it right. Simply put, we have to do better. And we will.”
Other notable cases of home violence suspensions in recent times have included: Dallas Cowboys operating again Ezekiel Elliott (six games in 2017), Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (10 games in 2015) and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (4 games in 2018).
The lawyer representing the women accusing Watson of misconduct announced confidential settlements in 23 of 24 civil lawsuits.
“Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled. We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed,” attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement to NBC News.
“The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”
In his statement, Buzbee gave credit to plaintiff Ashley Solis, who was the first to come forward and accuse Watson of sexual misconduct. Solis’ case remains one of four unsettled cases.
Buzbee said of the open cases: “Ashley Solis is one of the heroes of this story. Her case has not settled and thus her story and that of the other three brave women will continue. I look forward to trying these cases in due course, consistent with other docket obligations and the court’s schedule.”
Buzbee declined to speak substantively about any NFL action agains Watson.
“I’ve been requested repeatedly about my ideas in regard to the NFL’s continuing with Deshaun Watson. Although a few of my purchasers do have robust emotions in that regard, I’ve nothing significant to say about that course of,” he said.
“I’ve stated at first that the civil course of and the NFL’s disciplinary course of are very completely different. My position was to advance the reason for my purchasers, in civil court docket—nothing extra.”
Watson’s accusers allege he improperly touched them after hiring them as massage therapists and personal trainers.
Two grand juries in Texas declined to bring charges against Watson in March. The district attorneys in both instances did not elaborate on why the grand juries declined to indict.
Watson has denied wrongdoing.
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, said in a June statement: “Deshaun Watson did nothing wrong. And as two grand juries have made clear, Deshaun did nothing illegal.”
“Deshaun has always acknowledged consensual sexual activity with three of the plaintiff massage therapists after massages. And Deshaun has repeatedly sworn under oath that he did not force any of his accusers to have sexual contact.”
Watson, a 26-year-old native of Gainesville, Georgia, and Clemson University alumnus, has been within the NFL since 2017. Watson had his finest season in 2020 with the Texans, main the league with 4,823 yards passing together with 33 touchdowns.
A six-game ban would make Watson eligible to play within the Browns’ seventh sport of this upcoming season on Oct. 23 when Cleveland is ready to go to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns, who traded for the embattled quarterback in March, might be left with journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their beginning signal caller in Watson’s absence.
This is a developing story. Please refresh here for updates.
Associated Press contributed.